To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Despite Critics, Worship Leader Says IHOP's 24/7 Prayer Movement is Centered on ChristThe International House of Prayer has been called "unorthodox" (and worse) by The New York Times. Yet songwriter Jon Thurlow looks to the Bible to ground his worship.
Since September 1999, rotating teams at the International House of Prayer-Kansas City (IHOP-KC) in Missouri have continuously led a concert of prayer and worship. Under the leadership of Bible teacher Mike Bickle, the church welcomes visitors who come to pray at any time-day or night. The nondenominational ministry, which includes a church with Sunday services, has hundreds of full-time staff who work in shifts to keep 24/7 prayer going. IHOP-KC has its detractors, both in the media and in Christian circles. A New York Times article called the group "controversial, cultish and unorthodox." Last year, two religion scholars wrote a book claiming Bickle and other charismatic leaders interpret the Bible in "non-standard" ways. Songwriter Jon Thurlow has been around for most of the journey. After graduating from Nyack College in New York with a sacred music degree, he joined the IHOP-KC staff in 2004 as a worship leader. In an earlier interview, Thurlow spoke of he and his wife's adoption advocacy and his new album, Different Story. Now he shares broadly about the global prayer movement, along with insights into his new songs. The Purpose of 24/7 Praise The Stream: The concept of worship and prayer that goes 24 hours every day of the week is new even to many Christians. What does it look like on a daily basis? Jon Thurlow: The Bible tells us in Revelation that worship and prayer in Heaven never stops. It's always going. We believe God calls us to a live interaction with Him through the Holy Spirit. Really unique things happen in that live environment. I can explain a little of the structure of how we lead in the prayer room in Kansas City.
The other prayer format is called Worship with the Word. We incorporate what we call antiphonal singing of the Bible. "Antiphonal" is a fancy word for multiple voices and people singing. We sing Scriptures that we all engage with corporately. That's something we regularly, consistently do as part of our worship model. As part of the Body of Christ, we believe prayer plays a significant role in the missions movement. Before we all go in to lead worship, my team of a dozen singers and musicians gather together. We take 20 minutes before the set and talk about what Scripture passage we're going to sing. Or if it's intercession, we'll discuss what we're going to pray over the two hours... Click here to continue reading.
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News Ukraine War Kids, 'Forgotten Children' to Taste Joy at Summer Camps San Francisco Archbishop Bars Pro-abortion Nancy Pelosi from Holy Communion Senator Rubio Grills NIH over Lack of Data Supporting Its Push to Give Puberty Blockers to Kids 'Major Legal Victory': VA Judge Finds 'Probable Cause' That Gender ID Books Too Obscene for Minors Robby Mook Testifies: Hillary Clinton Personally Approved Leak of Alfa Bank Hoax to Media 'Amazing' Start to God Loves You Tour in Liverpool: 'It Was Just Wow!' PRAY: Israel to Join the US in Sacrificing Sovereignty to the World Health Organization US Congresswoman Introduces Resolution to Label Israel's Founding a 'Catastrophe' Buffalo Shooter Wore Same Nazi Symbol as the Ukrainian Military Search the Articles Archives |
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |